Chapters:

"Hey Benny! Are you ready for your first day at the new school?"
My mother said enthusiastically. She beamed at me like I had just
opened up her favorite present on Christmas. Only there were no
presents and this was no holiday.

"If I say yes, will you leave me alone?" I grumbled. I know
it wasn't the nicest thing I could've said but it was morning and
I was tired. Heck, I was in a totally new place as a stranger and
I was about to enter the devil itself Middle School being the new
kid. You can't blame me.

"You are sour this morning. Well, you better put on a smile
and make friends. It's a fresh new start. You'll love it!" She
said to cheery in my opinion," I'm starting my job. I will try my
best. You do the same." She set her coffee down and planted a
yucky kiss right on my forehead. I made a disgusted face and
squirmed out her hold in protest. She laughed.

"Lunch is in the fridge. You know the bike route to the
school right?" She questioned. I nodded, signaling her I knew it
and she didn't need to ask any more of her irritating questions.
Well, maybe just 'I knew.'

Five minutes after my mother had left, I was dreading my soon
to come day. My thoughts were darkened by terrible events that
could happen - and I was pretty convinced it would happen. If all
truth, I was scared as heck.

I dragged my mountain bike out of the dusty garage and kicked
up the kickstand. My backpack slumped on my shoulders as I loaded
on. Here we go, I thought. I started pedaling as slow as I
could. I was in no hurry to get to school.

After about a minute of biking slower than a snail some idiot
zoomed his bike onto the sidewalk, cutting me off.

"Hey!" I yelled, in protest of his action. The brakes
squeaked on his bike and his head shot around to me. He was about
to snap at me when his face suddenly lightened.

"Benjerman!" He called out, and I swear my head shook like I
couldn't remember something.

"George! Do you always ride your bike?" I probably sounded
like a chump but George didn't seem to notice. He held his bike
up and waited for me to catch up. At a steady pace, when began
biking alongside each other, like we were best buds.

"How is it?" I smirked. A confused look spread across his
face.

"How's what?" He asked, like I was from Planet Mars. How I
can ruin such a normal moment. It's one of my many skills.

"School," I said simply, like it was his fault he didn't
understand. I know, a little rude. "How are the teachers?"

He frowned in a thinking way. It was like he was going to
give his answer some thought. That's a first. "Um, I guess it
depends on the student you are. Good grades, nice behavior,
things like that will send you to the top of their list. One
specific teacher, the Math teacher, judges a little more on
personality. He doesn't care if you are an excellent
student, you just have to have a personality he likes.
For instance, none of the teachers adore me. I am not saying they
hate my guts but they only like me. Mr. Rhodes, the Math teacher,
does adore me because of my personality. That's how a Math
teacher actually ended up being my favorite."

You can only guess what happened next. We laughed. It wasn't
a 'Haha, that was funny' laugh it was a 'We have been best
friends forever' laugh. You know what was really funny, though. I
hadn't had that laugh in a long time and I had it right now with
almost a total stranger. It really started out the day wonderful.
I thought this day couldn't get any better. Turns out I was
right. The happiness dropped by about 25% by the end of the
school day.